So, several weeks ago, I posted about not being judgmental, and how hard that is.
Well, today, I head off to a party for one of my favorite hostesses/colleagues/friends, named Amy.
Now, if on Sunday, April 1st, 2012 (IRONICALLY, April Fools Day!), you would have asked me if almost two years later, I’d still be working with Amy, much less be good friends with her, I would have laughed and said probably not.
I met Amy very briefly at another party, for a lady named Judy. Amy ran in on her way to work (or school, I don’t recall) said she wanted to book a party, set a date, and ran out. I never really bonded with her.
Now, I have to tell you, I do NOT do much hostess coaching–that is another topic for another day. I do it mostly via postcards, emails and Facebook messages, so there is not a lot of relationship-building at the point (GASP!). So, when I don’t get to talk to someone at the party they book at, I really do not get to know them at all or even bond with them. And, if I recall, Amy was not even on Facebook at the time. So, it was just a random email here and there, and she was very busy, so they were extremely hit or miss.
I showed up at her apartment that Sunday, and her mom answered the door. BECAUSE AMY WAS PASSED OUT ON THE COUCH. Literally. She got up once to either throw up or pee…don’t recall what one, but I think she said three words to me, and passed out on the couch again. Her mom did say something about her being out too late and drinking, and Amy did argue with her on the way back to the couch and said NO, that was not the issue. Her mom did not seem to buy that, and we literally did the party around Amy, on the couch.
She had a full house that day. And a GREAT party! It was above average, with several bookings, and started some chains with some of my favorites hostesses who I still work with this to this day! In fact, one of the hostesses spawned from that chain just had the biggest party I have had so far with my new company. So, it was a great day, despite the lack of Amy and her participation.
I did have to stop my presentation at one point. Since there was good turnout and the couch was needed, Amy was laying with her head on a friend’s lap. At one point, Amy started gagging so hard, I had to encourage the friend to PLEASE help her get up and get to the bathroom.
The funny thing was Amy had a giant poodle that was gated off from the rest of the party, and kept jumping the gate, and everyone thought the dog was the big distraction. Um, no, I’ll take a giant dog any day of the week over a passed out hostess!
Fast forward seven months. I was at the SECOND PARTY that one of the hostesses from that party had had with me, and in walked Amy…EIGHT AND A HALF MONTHS PREGNANT. No, she was not hung over and passed out at her party…she was pregnant, didn’t know it and pretty sick. She told me she KNEW it was not a hangover that day, we laughed, and she booked another party for several months later, for after the baby was born.
In the meantime, she started selling for another company (I never recruited her because we never bonded because she was “passed out” at her party–MY BAD), and she does AMAZING for them. My bad, my loss.
Nonetheless, I am still a winner, because even better, Amy and I are now friends. And I am off to see her and do another party with her.
***This originally posted on Dec. 1, 2013. Now Amy has TWO adorable sons, and is STILL a great friend of mine, and has another party coming up in less than six week.